Inter unlikely to risk Sneijder at Juve

Brief news ahead of this weekend's matches in Serie A:

* Serie A leaders Inter are not expected to risk using Wesley Sneijder in their starting lineup for tomorrow's big match at third-placed Juventus.

The Dutch playmaker is on the mend after injuring his thigh in training with his national team last month but Italian media predict that, at most, he will be on the bench.

Coach Jose Mourinho is awaiting the result of an appeal for the reduction of Maicon's two-match ban for dissent in a 3-1 win at Bologna two weeks ago to know whether he can field the Brazil fullback.

* Midfielder Felipe Melo should be available after a throat infection for faltering Juve, who dropped eight points behind Inter with last week's 2-0 defeat at Cagliari.

Coach Ciro Ferrara is considering changing formation again, according to reports, and reverting to a 4-3-1-2 with captain Alessandro Del Piero and Amauri up front.

* Second-placed Milan, who trail Inter by seven points, cannot use Filippo Inzaghi in tomorrow's home match against Sampdoria, although the suspended striker has not been a regular starter of late anyway.

* Sampdoria, whose strong early season form has deserted them recently, are hit even harder by bans, with defenders Fabrizio Cacciatore and Marco Rossi and midfielder Angelo Palombo out after last week's bad-tempered 3-0 defeat by city rivals Genoa.

* Troubled Lazio are without suspended forward Julio Cruz for the derby against in-form Roma on Sunday, when they will be aiming for their first league win since August.

* A car with Palermo players Edinson Cavani and Nicolas Bertolo inside was attacked while they waited at a traffic light yesterday, the Sicilian club said before Sunday's home match against Cagliari.

Palermo lost their first game under new coach Delio Rossi 1-0 at Chievo Verona last weekend after a poor run cost Walter Zenga his job.